Lake Chagan

For the lake in Jilin, China, see Chagan Lake (China).

Lake Chagan
Coordinates	49°56′07″N 79°00′32″E / 49.935278°N 79.008889°E / 49.935278; 79.008889Coordinates: 49°56′07″N 79°00′32″E / 49.935278°N 79.008889°E / 49.935278; 79.008889
Basin countries	Kazakhstan
Water volume	100,000 m3 (81 acre·ft)

Lake Chagan (or Lake Balapan), Kazakhstan, is a lake created by the Chagan nuclear test fired on January 15, 1965. Often referenced as "Atomic Lake," the crater lake's volume is approximately 100,000 m³ (81 acre·ft), and is still radioactive, although it has decayed to the point where people can swim in it. As at the Trinity site of the first United States nuclear weapon test in Alamogordo, New Mexico, the exposed rock was melted into a glassy substance. To the south the rim of the crater holds back the waters of a second reservoir.

See also

• Sedan (nuclear test) -- An American cratering detonation

References

• On the Soviet program for peaceful uses of nuclear weapons
• On the Soviet nuclear program